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Report: Gio did not get PEDs from clinic

Substances Nats lefty reportedly did receive are not on MLB's banned list

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Outlook: Gonzalez, SP, WSH 0:38

Gio Gonzalez was great in '12, leading the Majors in wins while setting career-highs in ERA, WHIP and K's in his first season in the NL

By Bill Ladson

VIERA, Fla. -- More than once, Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Several weeks ago, The Miami New Times linked the pitcher to Anthony Bosch, who reportedly supplied PEDs to professional athletes.

However, according to a report from ESPN's Outside the Lines, two sources told the company that Gonzalez did not receive banned substances from Bosch or the anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis. Gonzalez reportedly received glutathione, intramuscular shots and amino acids, but none of those substances are on Major League Baseball's banned substances list.

The Miami New Times reported that Gonzalez had a $1,000 order for Aminorip, a muscle-building protein. However, none of the ingredients listed in Aminorip is on MLB's list of prohibited substances. The paper later released a new document that listed Gonzalez's name next to a list of ingredients for "pink cream," a synthetic testosterone.

On Wednesday afternoon, Gonzalez didn't take any questions about the report, but he made a statement to the local media at Space Coast Stadium.

"I'm going to be honest with you guys: I haven't heard anything officially from MLB. I do plan on sitting down and cooperating with them," Gonzalez said. "I want to get this all done before the season starts. This is all new to me, guys. I do plan on getting ready and looking forward to Spring Training. I feel confident this is going to come out good."

Last week, Gonzalez acknowledged that his father, Max, was a patient of [Anthony] Bosch's.

The Nationals haven't received any official word from the league office regarding Gonzalez, according to general manager Mike Rizzo.

"We are not going to comment until we hear something official," Rizzo said.

Gonzalez was able to focus on baseball Wednesday. He had his first batting-practice session at the Nationals' Minor League complex. At one point, pitching Steve McCatty wanted him to stop throwing after time was up, but Gonzalez threw a few more pitches.

"I felt great," Gonzalez said. "The velocity is still there. You hear some good news from the guys telling you how your fastball looks. It's coming out there for the first time, pitching to live hitters. You tend to try and do too much, and I think my job is to control that and keep it composed. I was grateful enough to talk to [McCatty] about my pitching mechanics. He doesn't feel there is too much to work on. He feels confident that I'm going to make the adjustment for my next start. I feel good."

Gonzalez is coming off his best season, having gone 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA and 207 strikeouts and earning a third-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award vote. He is expected to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.